Method of fixing a broken oil pipe

ABSTRACT

The usual safety feature of oil pipes is the shut-off valve. Whenever there is a need, such a valve can be closed, and oil is prohibited from spilling into the surroundings. However, the shut-off valve may sometimes be inaccessible. It may be buried deep in the mud, or even worse, there may be no shut-off valve. Such an oil spill could prove disastrous. Fortunately, our invention would provide a solution to just such a situation. We would need to send submarine robots to the scene of the accident. These robots, controlled from the ship on the surface, would insert our specially designed hydraulic head into the pipe. This head would then seal the pipe, stopping any further oil spill.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The usual safety feature of oil pipes is the shut-off valve. Wheneverthere is a need, such a valve can be closed, and oil is prohibited fromspilling into the surroundings. Different kinds of shut-off valves areused for pipes with relatively big diameter, and different for pipeswith relatively small diameter. In both cases such valves not only stopthe oil from spilling, but they also provide the possibility ofreplacing the broken section of the pipe. Further, if such a valve waswell designed and installed in a proper location, the replacement of thebroken section can be quick and easy.

SUMMARY

Suppose an oil pipe gets broken, due to an explosion, a collision withanother body, erosion, or anything else, but it is rather easy for themechanical crew to get to the broken section, along with their specificequipment. In such case the repair should not become complicated, andproblem ought to be fixed quickly. Unfortunately, this is not always thecase.

Suppose the broken section of the oil pipe is deep at the bottom of theocean where working conditions for humans are harsh (low visibility,extreme pressure, very low temperature, strong ocean currents, etc).Further, suppose that the shut-off valve is inaccessible, may be burieddeep in the mud, or even worse, that there is no shut-off valve. Such anoil spill could prove disastrous, and likely unfixable for a longerperiod of time. However, our invention would provide a relatively quickand easy solution to just such a situation. We would need to sendsubmarine robots to the scene of the accident. These robots, controlledfrom the ship on the surface, would insert our specially designedhydraulic head into the pipe. This head would then seal the pipe,stopping any further oil spill.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The goal of our invention is to make it considerably easier and fasterto stop an oil spill, specifically in the case of a burst pipe. Anuncontrollable oil spill can potentially cause an environmentaldisaster. It can also significantly contribute to worsening economicalcondition of the communities living in the close proximity of thisspill. It may take a long period of time for both the environment andthe economy to heal.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1. shows how the oil spill can be dealt with: into a broken pipe(FIG. 1A) our hydraulic head is inserted (FIG. 1B) and then the oil leakis stopped (FIG. 1C).

FIG. 2 shows the structure of our hydraulic head, including the maincore, the shut-off valves, cylinders, side plates, and canals for thehydraulic fluid.

FIG. 3, in addition to the main core of the hydraulic head, shows the“pillow,” which completely seals the broken pipe.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   1. Broken pipe-   2. Main core of the hydraulic head-   3. Center shut-off valve-   4. Movable side plates-   5. Movable hydraulic cylinders-   6. Pillow-   7. Side shut-off valve-   8. Circular Gasket-   9. Hydraulic fluid canals-   10. Foam/gel canal

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 2 AND 3—THE HYDRAULIC HEAD

Please refer to FIG. 2. The main core (2) of the hydraulic head providesthe barrier against the pressure of the oil. It should be made out of anextra-fine steel. Within this core there are canals (9) through whichhydraulic fluid is transferred to the hydraulic cylinders (5). Onto themain core, from the top, two shut-off valves are mounted: the centershut-off valve (3), which is connected to the cylinders (5), and a sideshut-off valve (7), which is connected to the bottom element (6) called“the pillow.”

Hydraulic cylinders (5) are allowed to move back and forth within themain core. The movement of these cylinders is controlled by the pressurein the hydraulic fluid. These cylinders are attached to the side plates(4). Side plates are also allowed to move within the core. Theirmovement is controlled by the hydraulic cylinders, which push theseplates outward. As a result, side plates are squeezed against the pipe,and the hydraulic head is firmly attached to the pipe.

Side plates (4), on their outer surfaces, have cut out numerous, smallteeth. These greatly increase frictional forces which keep the wholehead inside the pipe.

To briefly summarize the above description, it suffices to write thefollowing. With robots, our hydraulic head is inserted into the brokenpipe. Using a regular hydraulic pump, the hydraulic fluid pushescylinders (5), which in turn push the side plates (with their sharpteeth) (4) against the inside walls of the broken pipe. Thus ourhydraulic head is secure inside the pipe. Next step is to activate thepillow (6).

Please refer to FIG. 3. The pillow is glued onto the semisphericalcavity, located at the front/bottom of the hydraulic head. This pillowneeds to be made out of an elastic polymer, chemically strong enough toresist oil. Initially, the pillow is partially empty on the inside, andconnected with a canal (10) to the side shut-off valve (7). Through thisvalve (7) and canal (10), a special foam or gel, is injected into thepillow, stretching it and sealing the pipe. Thus the oil leak isstopped.

1. The main core (2) of the hydraulic head along with canals (9). 2.Hydraulic cylinders (5) mounted within the main core.
 3. Side plates (4)mounted within the main core.
 4. The pillow (6).